AM May 28th Acts 12

May 28^th Acts 12 Peter is put in prison

1: Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2: And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3: And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4: And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. 5: Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Peter released from prison

6: And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7: And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8: And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9: And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. 10: When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

The grandson of Herod the Great, Herod Agrippa I, decided that he will have a go at the believers. So he arrests and kills James the brother of John. And while the church is still in shock, and because he finds that the Jews are pleased with him, he arrests Peter. This took place at Passover. Peter was incarcerated with sixteen guards to look after him. Herod intended to bring Peter out after the holidays were over. While Peter was in prison the Church prayed for him unceasingly. On the night before Herod was going to bring him to trial Peter was asleep between two soldiers bound to each guard by chains. Suddenly the darkness of the cell is lit up by the angel of the Lord. The angels struck Peter in the side to wake him up saying, arise quickly Peter. When Peter rose his chain just fell off. The Angel said clothe yourself and tie on your sandals. Then he said cast your overcoat around you and follow me. The Angel left the cell and Peter followed wondering if this was really happening. He thought he might be dreaming. Then they past the first and second prison rooms and they came to the Iron Gate, which was the Main Gate of the prison. They gate opened by itself and they both left the prison and when Peter finally found himself outside the prison the angel disappeared.

• What sort of Person was Herod and what did he try to do?
• How did the Lord save Peter from Herod?